Monkeyboy spots that the freehold on the Birds Dress Agency property on Malpas Road is now up for sale. Agents KFH say:

Adjoining two storey mid terrace property comprising an inter-communicating vintage clothes shops on the ground floor level with a self-contained entrance to the upper parts. There is a garden at the rear of the two buildings and there is also rear access to the properties via Shardeloes Road. The upper parts comprise 2 self-contained 1 bedroom apartments.

Does anyone know what's happening with the owner? Are they retiring? I always though they were a little cooky. As I been in several times in the past, but the owner wouldn't sell me anything. Telling me that she was going to send the item off for repair and then would be able to sell it for more money. So never really went back after that.

Me too. 'kooky' just like the vintage/second hand clothes shop on the corner of Lewisham Way and Tanners Hill. Independent,lovely,interesting clothes but distinctly flakey. Customers usually like to be able to buy stuff. Maybe that's boring and controlling but generally, businesses work like that. The owner opens at advertised hours and then tries to sell the things in their shop.

I just went in there for the first time yesterday, the two ladies who work there are hilarious and completely mad to be honest. I found them very helpful which I know contradicts some other comments I've read on here. I chatted to them for a while, the owner is retiring as she's in her early seventies. Apparently the shop has been in the family since her grandmother and has always been a dress agency. She said it's one of the first shops of that kind, 'vintage'. I don't think she liked it being called vintage though. It's a shame to see it go as it's been there so long, but I wonder if it really makes any money!

and now it's To Let http://www.primelocation.com/to-rent/details/35231781?tmad=c&tmcampid=35&utm_campaign=rent-alert&utm_content=contact-type-listing&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert#7zVWXBorGJFBi80A.97